Foodie in Barcelona

Curious about food, culture and what people put in their mouth

  • Home
  • Favourites
  • Best Of
  • Map

Cecconi’s Barcelona, Brunch, El Born

30th January 2020 Leave a Comment

The buffet at Cecconi's Barcelona on a Sunday

Cecconi’s Barcelona, pronounced, Chekoni’s is the “public facing” high-end Italian chain (1 of 8 worldwide) from the Soho House group. Public-facing meaning unlike the top two floors of Soho House: the street level Cecconi’s welcomes non-members. I’m here for the much-lauded brunch buffet. It’s 45€ so I have come equipped with an appetite so fervent I feel woozy from my low blood sugar.

A giant dish of mozzarella with pistachios sprinkled on top

We are seated in the corner of the large dining room. The space is broken up by potted plants and various seating formats. I covet at least half the prints I see hanging on the wall.

The buffet is extravagant. Platters upon platters of food. Old cookbooks stacked beneath to offer a staggered view of all the options. Antipasti Misti,  which is how I start, along with some salads and Vitello Tonnato – the veal an alluring shade of pink. There is a large knot of mozzarella, the size of a handbag, strewn with brightly coloured pistachios.

Next, I move on to the main meal. The choice, once again, is considerable: lasagna, risotto served in a hollowed-out Parmesan cheese, meatballs. They have 3 kinds of meat set out under heat lamps: roast beef, lamb chops, and porchetta. Porchetta for me- I would have taken all the crackling but settled for the sliver that came with my slice. It is sliced to order by one of the chefs behind the counter all of whom are speaking Italian to each other.

Bar filled with desserts at Cecconi's in Barcelona

I take my seat and take my time looking around, reassured that the buffet will stay generously filled throughout the afternoon. At the bar in front of me, there is a couple newly in love, the woman is slim, with a frilly collared red shirt and a severe short haircut. Next to me, two young French women, the accessories of whom I want. Across from me a guy in a white Emirates / Ronaldo jersey (always wondered who buys those things). Every time I return to the buffet (it is often) I pass a table of beautiful Italian women who are conversing with the servers in Italian. The people-watching is as good as the buffet it turns out.

It’s coming to 5:30 and most of the customers have left. The buffet remains full.
“What happens with all this food?” I ask a young server who has gone to the back to find out if there is more of the tapioca and mango pudding I am after.
“It’s staff lunch,” she tells me.
And sure enough, staff start lining up and piling mountains of food on their plates while some fill takeaway containers.
That’s almost the best part I think. Working in hospitality, always being on to grant the wishes and expectations of others and represent your brand is thankless work, certainly not compensated adequately, so to see Soho House treating their staff to the good stuff is great.

I’ve been a few times for their regular menu for lunch and in the evening but their brunch is my favourite reason to go. 

Cecconi’s Barcelona 
Passeig de Colom, 20
El Born 08002
www.cecconisbarcelona.com
instagram.com/cecconisbarcelona
facebook.com/CecconisBarcelona/

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • More
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: brunch, Italian

« Bacaro, Italian Food, El Raval
Cal Trapella, Catalan, Gracia »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What Are You Looking For?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 768 other subscribers.

Foodie In Barcelona on Instagram

Hola Coffee, Madrid ☕️ 📍Calle del Dr. Fourq Hola Coffee, Madrid ☕️
📍Calle del Dr. Fourquet, 33
Minimalist, confident, and just the right kind of cool. The kind of place where the coffee’s excellent, the croissants are glossy, and yes — they serve an iced coffee with olive oil.
@holacoffee 

Design-led, barista-driven, and packed to the rafters with oat milk. A must if you like your coffee with a bit of bite and a lot of style.

#HolaCoffee #MadridCoffeeScene #FoodieInBarcelona #IcedCoffeeWithOliveOil #BaristaMood #SpecialtyCoffeeMadrid #MinimalistCafeVibes
When the meze arrives at Ali Ocakbaşı, it’s no When the meze arrives at Ali Ocakbaşı, it’s not a starter—it’s a ceremony. Smoky aubergine, creamy yogurt, grilled meats kissed by fire, and the crispiest künefe in Barcelona.

This isn’t just dinner. It’s a full-on Anatolian experience 🇹🇷✨

📍Ali Ocakbaşı, Enric Granados 69
🍴Full review on foodieinbarcelona.com

#AliOcakbasi #BarcelonaFoodie #TurkishFoodBarcelona #MezeMoments #BarcelonaRestaurants #AnatolianCuisine #FoodieInBarcelona #GrilledPerfection #KünefeDreams #WhereToEatInBarcelona #MediterraneanFlavours #EnricGranadosEats #VisitBarcelona #MiddleEasternEats
✨ A magical evening in celebration of Elysian Ta ✨ A magical evening in celebration of Elysian Tales by the ever-inspiring Marwa.
From gilded bites to golden hour laughs, every detail felt like a page from a dream.
Here’s to stories told through flavor, elegance, and friendship. #ElysianTales
#MarwaLaunch
#GastronomicElegance
#ChicBites
#PlatedPoetry
#CulinaryStorytelling
#NotYourAverageParty
#FoodieEscapes
#DecadentDetails
#HostessGoals
#BitesAndBubbles
#EpicureanEvening
@casajuliomadrid : a crimson-clad portal to proper @casajuliomadrid : a crimson-clad portal to proper old-school Madrid.
Tomato salad dripping in oil, oversized croquetas, garlicky chistorra with golden potatoes, a cold caña, and just enough chaos behind the bar to feel alive.
No fusion. No foam. Just flavor.
💃🏼🍅🍻 #MadridSinFiltros #FoodieInMadrid #casajulio
✨ Own Your Pleasure ✨ A feast for the senses c ✨ Own Your Pleasure ✨
A feast for the senses curated by Erika Lust at @la_culturehouse – where art, desire, and food meet in bold, provocative beauty. From the strawberry and elderflower bites to the unapologetically decadent “Vagina Cake” by @dontpanikitsveganik, every detail was a celebration of taste, form, and freedom.

#OwnYourPleasure #ErikaLust #FoodArt #BarcelonaEvents #SensualDining #FoodieInBarcelona 
#CulinaryArt
📍Batea Barcelona — Gran Via, 605 Michelin 202 📍Batea Barcelona — Gran Via, 605
Michelin 2025 recommended and absolutely deserved.

Between the Betanzos tortilla drowning in prawn head jus and the delicately plated ceviche, Batea balances tradition with a polished, confident creativity. It’s seafood-forward but far from predictable.

Highlights:
🦐 Tortilla with prawns
🥒 Flawless ceviche
🥖 Bread + algae butter = don’t skip it
🌿 Falafel of algae & bluefin tuna (!)

Their design nods to the nostalgic brasseries of old, but this is very much Barcelona now. Grab a table. Order generously.

#foodieinbarcelona #batea #barcelonafood #michelinbarcelona #barcelonaeats #bcnfoodie #tortillabetanzos #barcelonarestaurants #seafoodlover #plateselector
@unikobarcelona is one I have on rotation. If I am @unikobarcelona is one I have on rotation. If I am not here, I’m at one of the @101_dim_sum locations.

#chinesefoodlover #foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants
Contracorrent Bistró has a new (ish) spot in Grà Contracorrent Bistró has a new (ish) spot in Gràcia. A melding of Catalan and Italian flavours and a focus on ingredients. As highlighted by the row of vines from the family estate that are suspended from the ceiling. 
The choice is between two tasting menus. Of course my friend and I selected the largest one!
A flurry of small plates and bowls ensued. Just the way I like it, lots of variety but I didn’t have to waddle out of there. 
The warm and knowledgeable service was the cherry on top.
@contracorrentbar 
📍 Carrer de Sant Domènec, 14
08012 Barcelona

#foodieinbarcelona #foodinbcn #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcndelicatessen #bcnfoodieguide #gracia #gràcia
I smell summer. A gritty cup of cold horchata with I smell summer. A gritty cup of cold horchata with retro fittings is it these days. Bonus points for the sugar free option. 

#foodieinbarcelona #horchata #sirvent #sirventbarcelona #bcn #bcninspira
I feel like the one coffee shop per block thing ha I feel like the one coffee shop per block thing has been done ad nauseam - instead I would like to petition for one cheese shop per block. Found this darling one on the corner from one of my favourite restaurants.
What about you? Do you think we have reached peak coffee shop saturation in the city?
22:22 Cultura Dulce is all about pretty patisserie 22:22 Cultura Dulce is all about pretty patisserie and many layered savoury butter pastries. I think we may have tried a calçot riff when we were there. It’s a large place with corners occupied by big personality plants. 

#patisserie #barcelona #foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnlovers #bcnfood #bcnfoodies #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcninspira
The foie sauce pasta @maleducat should be illegal. The foie sauce pasta @maleducat should be illegal. It’s not a plate to share - even with someone you love. 🫣
Of course the tomato tartar with mackerel continues to make me happy.

#foodieinbarcelona #foodbcn #bcnfood #bcngourmet #bcnrestaurants #bcndelicatessen #bcnfoodie #eatbcn
Follow on Instagram

Foodie In Barcelona on Substack

On Substack? Get Foodie In Barcelona on your favourite newsletter platform by scanning the QR code below.

Substack QR Code

Recent Posts

  • Ali Ocakbaşı Turkish Food Barcelona
  • Jiribilla, Mexican, Sant Antoni
  • 3 Barcelona Wineries to Visit by Nika Shevela
  • Hiu Restaurant, South East Asian Fusion, Cambrils
  • Glug, European, Eixample

VoiceMap: A Culinary Tour of El Born

VoiceMap logoVoiceMap QR CodeFor the best experience, install the VoiceMap app for Android or iPhone. Then just scan the QR code to be taken to my tour. A 2-hour tour for only $6.99!

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • X
  • Email

Posts by Area

  • Barceloneta
  • Gòtic
  • Born
  • Eixample
  • Gràcia
  • Poble Sec
  • Poblenou
  • Raval
  • Sant Antoni

Popular Posts

  • Ten Best Tapas Restaurants in BCN by FoodJungle
  • Best Italian Restaurants in Barcelona
  • Best Bakeries Barcelona
  • The Best Spots to Enjoy Catalan Cuisine
  • Glug, European, Eixample
  • Barcelona's Best Mexican Restaurants
  • Top 10 Places to Eat in Sitges (Updated 2022)
  • Best Korean Restaurants Barcelona
  • Three New Restaurants To Try around Turo Park

Posts by Category

  • Cafés & Delis
  • Days Out
  • Miscellaneous
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • Shops & Markets
  • Tours
  • Travel

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie in Barcelona · info@foodieinbarcelona.com

Site by Web Harmonics

%d